[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41404-41405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19522]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the Treatment and Management of Sodium-Bonded Spent Nuclear Fuel

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy announces the availability of the 
``Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Treatment and Management 
of Sodium-Bonded Spent Nuclear Fuel'' (DOE/EIS-0306D) for public review 
and comment. This draft EIS, prepared under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), assesses the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the treatment and management of the Department's 
sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel in one or more spent nuclear fuel 
management facilities: Argonne National Laboratory-West at the Idaho 
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (near Idaho Falls, 
Idaho) and either the F-Canyon or Building 105-L at the Savannah River 
Site (near Aiken, South Carolina). The Department is considering ways 
to prepare the sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel for disposal in a 
geologic repository. Such treatment would remove or stabilize the 
chemically reactive sodium in the fuel. The EIS evaluates reasonable 
alternatives for treatment of the Department's sodium-bonded spent 
nuclear fuel and a no-action alternative. The Department has no 
preferred alternative at this time.

DATES: The Department invites the general public, other Federal 
agencies, Tribal, State and local Governments to provide comments on 
this draft EIS. The 45-day comment period extends through September 13, 
1999. To ensure consideration in the preparation of the final EIS, 
comments should be transmitted or postmarked by September 13, 1999. 
Comments submitted after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable. The information obtained during the comment period will 
assist the Department in preparing the final EIS, which is scheduled to 
be completed by December 31, 1999.
    During the review period, the Department will hold public hearings 
to discuss the proposed action and to receive oral and written comments 
on the draft EIS. The hearings are scheduled for the following dates, 
times, and locations.

August 17, 1999, (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.), North Augusta Community 
Center, 495 Brookside Avenue, North Augusta, South Carolina 29842, 
(803) 441-4290
August 24, 1999, (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.), Owyhee Plaza Hotel, 1109 
Main Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, (208) 343-4611
August 26, 1999, (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.), Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay 
Boulevard, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402, (208) 523-0088
August 31, 1999, (2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), Hyatt Regency Crystal 
City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202, (703) 
418-1234

    The format for the hearings will include an opportunity for 
informal discussions with project personnel before and after the formal 
presentation. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to 
provide comments on the draft EIS to Departmental representatives. The 
Department encourages those providing oral comments at the hearings to 
also submit them in writing. Comment forms will be available at the 
hearings for those who prefer to submit their comments in writing.
    The Department will make transcripts of the draft EIS hearings, 
copies of background documents, and other materials related to the 
proposed project and development of the EIS available for public review 
in the following reading rooms:

Washington, D.C.: U. S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information 
Reading Room, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190,

[[Page 41405]]

1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0117, 202-
586-3142
Idaho Falls, Idaho: Idaho National Engineering and Environmental 
Laboratory, DOE-Idaho Operations Office Public Reading Room, 1776 
Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415, 208-526-0271
Richland, Washington: DOE Public Reading Room, 2770 University 
Drive, CIC, Room 101L, Richland, Washington 99352, 509-372-7443
Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico, Government 
Information Department, Zimmerman Library, Albuquerque, New Mexico 
87131, 505-277-0582
Aiken, South Carolina: University of South Carolina-Gregg 
Graniteville Library, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, South Carolina 
29803, 803-648-6851
Oak Ridge, Tennessee: DOE Public Reading Room, 230 Warehouse Road, 
Building 1916-T-2, Suite 300, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, 423-241-
4780 and the DOE Information Resource Center, 105 Broadway Avenue, 
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, 423-241-4582

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the draft EIS, requests for special 
arrangements to enable participation in the hearings (e.g., an 
interpreter for the hearing impaired), requests to be placed on the EIS 
distribution list, and questions concerning the project should be sent 
to: Ms. Susan M. Lesica, EIS Document Manager, Office of Nuclear 
Facilities Management, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and 
Technology, U.S. Department of Energy, NE-40, 19901 Germantown Road, 
Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290.
    Comments and requests may also be submitted by toll free facsimile 
to (877) 621-8288 or telephone (877) 450-6904. Comments and requests 
may also be submitted by electronic mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the 
Department's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, please 
contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and 
Assistance (EH-42), Office of Environment, Safety and Health, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 
20585-0119; or telephone (202) 586-4600 or leave a message at 1-800-
472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is responsible for the safe 
and efficient management of several types of spent nuclear fuel 
including its ultimate disposition (that is expected to be disposal in 
a geologic repository). Some Departmental spent fuels may be suitable 
for disposal with little or no stabilizing treatment. Other spent fuel 
types may not be suitable for disposal without significant treatment or 
stabilization.
    One type of spent nuclear fuel that may not be suitable for 
disposal without treatment is sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel. Sodium-
bonded spent nuclear fuel contains metallic sodium, a highly chemically 
reactive material. Metallic sodium reacts vigorously with water or 
moist air producing heat, potentially explosive hydrogen gas, and 
sodium hydroxide, a corrosive substance. Sodium metal was used as a 
heat transfer medium within the stainless steel cladding of sodium-
bonded fuel and as coolant in the nuclear reactors in which these fuels 
were used. To the extent possible, the highly reactive sodium has been 
removed from external surfaces of these fuels after their use, but a 
portion remains bonded to the uranium metal alloy fuel within the 
cladding and cannot be removed without further treatment. The presence 
of reactive or pyrophoric material such as metallic sodium, could 
complicate the process of qualifying and licensing such spent fuel for 
disposal, which would require data and predictive analyses sufficient 
to demonstrate that emplacement of the spent fuel would not adversely 
affect a repository's ability to protect the environment and public 
health.
    The Department believes that treatment to remove metallic sodium 
and convert this spent nuclear fuel into a compact waste form would 
facilitate disposal qualification of this fuel. Technologies for spent 
nuclear fuel treatment that might facilitate such qualification should, 
therefore, be considered in deciding how to manage Department-owned 
sodium-bonded fuels. The EIS analyzes, under the proposed action, six 
reasonable alternatives that employ one or more of the following 
technology options: electrometallurgical treatment; the plutonium-
uranium extraction process; packaging in high-integrity cans; and the 
melt and dilute treatment process. The EIS also evaluates a no action 
alternative, under which the sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel would 
continue to be stored indefinitely; The Department would pursue 
research and development of a new treatment technology or would 
directly dispose of the sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel in high-
integrity cans without treatment.
    The Department has not identified a preferred alternative in the 
draft EIS. Environmental analysis in this EIS, public comments, the 
findings of an independent cost study and a nonproliferation report 
that are being prepared concurrently with the EIS, as well as other 
program policy factors, will be considered in determining a preferred 
alternative in the final EIS. A Record of Decision will be issued no 
sooner than 30 days after the final EIS has been distributed.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., this 22, day of July 1999.
William D. Magwood, IV,
Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 99-19522 Filed 7-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P